Sorting through the sixth (w/Showalter quotes)

As it turns out, what transpired in the bottom of the sixth inning isn't quite what we believed. I'll start by saying that the Orioles' run still counts. They're not resuming play with the score tied or awarding Chicago the win. But Paul Konerko never stepped on first base after fielding Matt Wieters' ground ball. He stopped short and threw home, but Luke Scott was ruled safe because catcher A.J. Pierzynski didn't make contact with the plate - eliminating the force - and didn't tag the...
As Brian Roberts remembers, this was just his second Major League walk-off homer. He hit one on June 28, 2005 in the tenth inning vs. the Yankees and he connected for the win in the tenth tonight vs. the first-place White Sox. "Just got a 1-0 fastball and, at that time of the game, I was trying to figure out whether to take a strike or not. But I was pretty sure I would get a heater at that point, 1-0 and leading off the inning. I was just fortunate enough to get a pitch to hit." He...
Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock had a rough second rehab start Monday night in Woodbridge, taking the loss in Game Two of the doubleheader with Lynchburg, 5-2. Mock allowed three runs on eight hits in four innings, hit two batters, did not issue a walk and struck out two. He threw 52 pitches, 37 for strikes. "It went okay," Mock said. "I was up in the zone early, got settled after the first inning. I threw all my pitches for strikes and finished the four innings in one piece. It...
It's a big game tonight for the Nationals and their young star Stephen Strasburg as he is scheduled to make his first start since July 27 when he was scratched prior to a game against the Atlanta Braves. If he is able to return from the shoulder inflammation, it will be Strasburg's first game since July 21 at Cincinnati. Strasburg has a 5-2 record with a 2.32 ERA, the best among NL rookie starters. Anibal Sanchez gets the nod for the Fish, who arrive six games in front of the Nats in the...
B-Rob walk-off: Brian Roberts just hit his first home run of the season, leading off the bottom of the 10th with a drive onto the flagcourt in right against J.J. Putz. That's the Orioles' first walk-off homer of the year, and the first since Matt Wieters on Sept. 16, 2009 vs. Tampa Bay. Manager Buck Showalter pulled Koji Uehara after two perfect innings and gave the ball to Alfredo Simon. One pitch, and we're tied. Paul Konerko crushed a 95 mph fastball for his 28th home run. Brian...
Even when the Orioles get deflated, they seem to win these days. The Birds completed their best homestand of the year tonight when Brian Roberts hit a booming homer over the right-field scoreboard on a 1-0 pitch leading off the last of the tenth. It gave the O's a 3-2 win over the AL Central-leading White Sox. It was the O's first walk-off homer of the year as the team concluded a 6-1 homestand for new skipper Buck Showalter. The last four wins all came by one run and the Orioles improved...
Tonight's attendance: 14,135. The Orioles scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead and position Brian Matusz for the win. Matusz is charged with one run and three hits in six innings, with two walks (one intentional), four strikeouts and one hit batter. He threw 99 pitches, 60 for strikes. That's seven consecutive quality starts from the rotation, the first time it's happened since July 2003. The starters have allowed 10 earned runs in their last 47 2/3 innings. Ty...
Joe Mahoney, first baseman for the Double-A Bowie Baysox, was a guest of Jim and Rick on MASN's O's XTRA tonight before the game here at Camden Yards. Joe is becoming quite the rock star. I've been told he was a pretty popular guy with autograph seekers after he got off the TV set out in left center here at the ballpark.
Brian Matusz has allowed one run over three innings, and the White Sox are making him work hard. Matusz threw 14 pitches in the first inning, 23 in the second and 23 in the third, giving him 60 for the game. (I decided to save you the math.) Brent Lillibridge lined out to open the third, but he saw seven pitches. Matusz hit Juan Pierre - who never should have worn his lucky bullseye on this trip - Alexei Ramirez grounded out and Alex Rios doubled to left field on Matusz's fifth pitch. Paul...
Not two wins, two series. The Orioles, who have won just five of 35 series all year, can win two in a row for the first time in over a year if they beat Chicago tonight. After sweeping the Angels to start this homestand, they have taken two of the first three in this four-game set with AL Central-leading Chicago. The last time the O's won back-to-back series was from July 7-12 of 2009 when they took two of three at Seattle and then won two of three at home vs. Toronto. With a 5-1 mark, the...
When last seen in the Orioles clubhouse Craig Tatum had a sore hand and overall, he was, well, sore about an O's roster decision. The decision made that day, July 25th, was to option Tatum to Triple-A when Matt Wieters came off the DL so the club could keep 13 pitchers. Tatum didn't hide his disappointment as he headed out to join Norfolk. The night before he had left the game with the Twins in the seventh inning after taking a foul ball off his right hand. He suffered a bruise and...